[27] Bueckers was also recognized as Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year for athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. [6] Decker received a call from Mike Harmon Racing at New Smyrna Speedway during the World Series of Stock Car Racing within the Daytona Speedweeks to see if she was interested to race in one of their trucks. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Its amazing, surreal for people to think of me that highly and to be in that position as a freshman, Bueckers said. Women's College Basketball Paige Bueckers injury updates Paige Bueckers meeting with doctors to determine next steps in recovery In other injury news, Dorka Juhsz will return from a foot. This incoming class includes Ayanna Patterson and Ice Brady, who rank fourth and fifth, respectively, among ESPN's 2022 prospects. Could be (weeks). [54], Bueckers has been regarded as one of the best players in Minnesota girls' high school basketball history. Despite losing to South Carolina in the final, Bueckers put on a masterful performance with 14 points and six rebounds. To get this award, Im extremely humbled and grateful.. Bueckers was recognized as USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2019. For other uses, see, USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, USBWA Women's National Player of the Year, 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship, 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup, allowed student-athletes to be compensated, FIBA Under-19 World Cup All-Tournament Team, "Paige Bueckers (USA)'s profile FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2019", "Something special from the get-go: Paige Bueckers, Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year", "For Hopkins' basketball phenom Paige Bueckers, 'The sky is the limit', "Paige Bueckers Is the Future of Basketball", "Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs, UConn's Paige Bueckers and the friendship that fuels March Madness", "Paige Bueckers, Chet Holmgren pulled up to watch Jalen Suggs in Las Vegas", "Hopkins star Paige Bueckers can go anywhere maybe even to the Gophers", "Bueckers: Balling before social media, the UConn legacy, learning from Taurasi and Irving", "UConn's Paige Bueckers facing an idol in Battle 4 Atlantis opener, Minnesota coach Lindsay Whalen", "Can this one super-prospect revive the greatest dynasty in sports? 3 UConn holds off No. [65][91][93][94], Bueckers was named to the university's dean's list her freshman year, which required a GPA of at least 3.72, and was involved in social justice causes. [16] She joined Hopkins' varsity team in eighth grade under head coach Brian Cosgriff, averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [153] Described as the "face of NIL" for women's basketball by The Athletic,[154] industry analysts have projected her as having one of the highest earning potentials from NIL among college athletes, because of both her success in basketball and her large social media following. Bueckers initially suffered the non-contact injury in the final minute of UConns win over Notre Dame on Dec. 5. UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee during Sunday's win over Notre Dame. [126] Bueckers led the United States to a gold medal after recording eight points and ten assists versus France in the final. 1 UConn in Final Four", "UConn women's basketball's Paige Bueckers wins Wooden Award, sweeps all national player of the year awards for which she was eligible", "UConn freshman Paige Bueckers leads women's AP All-America team", "USBWA names 202021 Women's All-America Team", United States Basketball Writers Association, "Bueckers Tabbed to WBCA Coaches' All-America Team", "Bueckers Named Nancy Lieberman Award Winner", "USBWA Names Tamika Catchings Award, Coach of the Year Winners", "UConn's Bueckers, Iowa's Clark named 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Co-Freshmen of the Year presented by adidas", "Paige Bueckers' sensational freshman season comes to a close in women's Final Four", "Freshman phenom: How UConn's Paige Bueckers' 202021 season stacks up against the all-time greats", "Paige Bueckers wins ESPY Award, advocates for Black female athletes", "The Ludicrous, Unprecedented Greatness of Paige Bueckers", "UConn questions: Paige Bueckers' development, newcomers adapting, managing crowded roster", "Bueckers can pass off the court as well", "UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers undergoes right ankle surgery", "Paige Bueckers 'really excited' about UConn's direction heading into 202122 season", "Loaded UConn women push for program's 12th national title", "Bueckers Is Unanimous Choice For Big East Preseason Player of the Year", "UConn Huskies' Paige Bueckers tops AP's preseason All-America team", "The Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd era at UConn is about to arrive and the rest of the college basketball world ought to watch out", "UConn women's basketball downs Arkansas, 9580", "What we learned from UConn's win over Arkansas: Bueckers leads, defensive holes, bench play", "Paige Bueckers scores career-high 34 points as UConn women's basketball opens with win over Arkansas", "UConn's Paige Bueckers out 68 weeks with fracture", "UConn women's star Paige Bueckers out eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery on left knee", "Bueckers returns as No. She underwent surgery on Dec. 13 and has missed the Huskies last 12 games. No. Connecticut - Northeast 10 Athletics Paige Decker #21 G So. 2 at the time, grabbed a 73-54 victory against No. The Gamecocks dominated from the beginning, though, and took the trophy with a 64-49 win. She has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series and was a 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. [10] Bueckers drew inspiration from NBA players LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. On Saturday, he explained what happenedsort of. [30][31] On March 16, despite having an illness that had caused her to vomit earlier in the day, she recorded 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals as her team won the Class4A state championship, 7445, over Stillwater Area High School. Decker started her racing career in snowmobiles as a 3-year-old. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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[115] In the Final Four, Bueckers recorded 14 points, five assists and four rebounds in a 6358 victory against top-seeded Stanford, the defending champions. While she will continue to wear Nike apparel in games due to UConn's contract with the company, she will wear other brands while promoting StockX off the court. "We have Paige Bueckers and they don't," she said. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 7 in the Associated Press poll, has 16 games before Feb. 9, including dates with No. [97] She could not practice for most of the offseason while recovering from surgery,[98] but was cleared to return by October. ", "Hopkins 8th grader Paige Bueckers attracts attention from colleges and Lynx coach", "Timeout! 7 UConn routs St. John's 93-38", "UConn loses to Georgia Tech without Paige Bueckers, snapping 240-game winning streak vs. unranked teams", "169-game win streak snapped: UConn drops first conference matchup since 2013 in loss to Villanova", "Paige Bueckers, 'so happy' to be back after 19-game absence, helps UConn roll to victory in return", "Bueckers remains UConn's biggest question for NCAA Tourney", "Why this Big East title feels different for UConn women's basketball team: 'Just so proud', "Women's NCAA tournament 2022: Can UConn Huskies win it all without Paige Bueckers at 100%? The Huskies were in control most of the way as they claimed a sweep of the Wildcats. [53] Bueckers finished as Hopkins' all-time leader in points (2,877), assists (795) and steals (574). An MRI and CT scan revealed the injury, which is a break of the larger lower leg bone below the knee that breaks into the knee joint itself, according to the Reno Orthopedic Center. UConn is 1-1 since Bueckerss injury, losing at unranked Georgia Tech last Thursday and beating unranked U.C.L.A. Paige Bueckers, the reigning national player of the year in womens basketball, had successful surgery on her left knee on Monday, the University of Connecticut announced on Tuesday. UConn has been an established powerhouse for a long while now with 11 national championships, but until earlier this year, the Huskies hadn't reached the title game since 2016. [172] On July 13, 2021, she filed for a trademark on the nickname for use on athletic apparel, such as shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, hats and uniforms. The national player of the year in womens basketball last season as a freshman, she had an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear repaired. All other winners have been juniors or seniors since the AP started honoring players in 1995. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 5. Our program will support Paige through her healing process to help her come back better and stronger.. [92] Analysts have considered Bueckers' freshman season to be among the best in UConn and NCAA history. There would be a time, coach Geno Auriemma said, when the most talented player in the . BRIDGEPORT For weeks before Paige Bueckers pulled the Huskies further into a historic run and back to where everything began her program's dynasty, her own legacy all anyone orbiting the UConn women's basketball world grew to understand was that she wasn't quite right and that was OK.. [12], In seventh grade, Bueckers played for the tenth-grade and junior varsity basketball teams at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). She's pointing and gesturing, she's screaming and chest-bumping a teammate, she's bouncing off her seat and reacting. "We were very connected," said Allen Decker, father of Paige and Claire. She was a Youth Olympic gold medalist in 3x3 basketball and has played for the senior national 3x3 team. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [5], Bueckers has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement, in part because her brother, Drew, whom she has described as her best friend,[149] is biracial. Connecticut's Paige Bueckers steals the ball from Notre Dame's Sonia Citron on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. The following week, Bueckers underwent surgery for an anterior tibial plateau fracture and a lateral meniscus tear on her left leg. I mean, I might have to like it if she misses any time, but I dont like the way it looks when shes not on the floor.. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. UConn (6-2), which is tied with Tennessee at No. Bueckers finally looked like her old self during UConn's Elite Eight game against NC State. UConns regular season ends Feb. 27, with the Big East and N.C.A.A. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM, Teammates gather around Connecticut's Paige Bueckers in their game against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. [136], Bueckers stands 5feet 11inches (1.80m) and plays the point guard position. 1 UConn", "Auriemma: UConn women's players are 'smart,' 'socially conscious', "For UConn's Paige Bueckers, racism is personal", "UConn's Bueckers marches for her little brother's future", "Star UConn guard Paige Bueckers uses ESPYS speech to honor Black women", "UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers signs with Wasserman Media Group as NIL client", "A six-figure payday? [12][33][55] During her senior season, Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins compared her influence in the state to that of Lindsay Whalen, writing, "A generation of girlsnow young womenthroughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota grew up idolizing [Whalen] as a basketball star. She also had the most steals (55) and assists (116) on the team last season. [49] She was named Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year,[18] Gatorade National Player of the Year,[50] Naismith Prep Player of the Year,[51] Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year,[52] and Minnesota Miss Basketball. ), * Season still in progress [128] Bueckers was named Most Valuable Player and made the All-Tournament Team. Griffin, a 6-foot-1 forward, dealt with a handful of injuries and missed all of last season, undergoing back surgery in January. [81] She won all the national player of the year awards she was eligible forAP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA Women's National Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Awardbecoming the first freshman to receive any of the awards. Gambling problem? Name one player that has taken a team this young to where we are today, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. She remained with her father while her mother remarried and moved to Billings, Montana. rob stafford daughter chicago fire. or redistributed. Obviously, were all extremely disappointed for Paige and that she suffered this injury, Geno Auriemma said in a release. Market data provided by Factset. ET, FOX. [26] She finished the season averaging 22.3 points, 6.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. All rights reserved. 25 Tennessee", "Paige Bueckers to miss UConn women's game vs. Georgetown with ankle injury; Anna Makurat out indefinitely", "Paige Bueckers' career-high 32 points carry UConn women over St. John's with Christyn Williams sidelined", "Bueckers Scores 30 and Williams Adds 18 as Huskies Win at Marquette, 8758", "Paige Bueckers takes over to deliver No. Its also just exciting to have her around as a teammate, having on the bench, telling us stuff. 2 UConn to win over No. So thats the goal.. During the postgame press conference, Williams explained their win in the simplest way she could. [2] Decker became the first woman and rookie to win in the series at the Golden Sands Speedway event. UConn star Paige Bueckers appeared to suffer a scary non-contact injury on Sunday during the Huskies' win over Notre Dame. She never wants to come out. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. competed in sixmeets with nine top 10 finishes. UConn womens basketball blows out Georgetown in Big East Tournament Quarterfinals. It was nothing to be ashamed of because the Gamecocks were -- and still are -- an outstanding team. 1 South Carolina on February 8, 2021[67], On December 12, 2020, Bueckers made her collegiate debut for UConn, recording 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 7923 win over UMass Lowell. Former UConn greats Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart both won the award as sophomores. [74] After leading UConn to the Big East regular-season title, she was named Big East Player of the Year and unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year, joining Maya Moore as the only players to win both awards in the same season. [150][151] During her acceptance speech at the 2021 ESPY Awards, Bueckers celebrated and honored Black women, bringing attention to the racial disparities in media coverage of women's basketball players. She started 29 games and averaged 20 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting 52.4% from the field and 46.4% from 3-point range. So shes run the gamut., You can tell she has a lot more higher spirits, jumping around a lot more, getting on everyones nerves more, Azzi Fudd joked. section: | slug: paige-bueckers-injury-how-uconn-stars-career-has-unfolded-what-this-all-means-for-huskies-in-2022-23 | sport: other | route: article_single.us | The sophomore could potentially return by late January or early February. Bueckers was averaging 21.2 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds a game before her injury. Weve made a concerted effort in the last three or four games to get her some rest during the game., I dont have an answer for why she was in the game, he added. Weve had players get injured in the past and my philosophy here is, Im not interested in how fast we can get someone back; Im interested in whats best for them long term, he said. [48] Bueckers was again honored as Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, becoming the award's first three-time winner. [102], Bueckers made her season debut on November 14, 2021, recording a career-high 34 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 9580 win against Arkansas. The Huskies only played eight players. [82] Bueckers was a unanimous first-team All-American: she earned first-team All-American honors from the AP and the USBWA,[83][84] and made the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches' All-America Team. [66], "I think the most impressive thing about Paige is that she plays at the same pace the entire game. After missing the last two games due to a foot issue, Dorka Juhsz will play on Sunday against Tennessee, according to Auriemma. 2018-19 Men's Basketball. [16] On April 1, 2019, Bueckers announced her commitment to University of Connecticut. 74 Chevrolet for owner/driver Mike Harmon, but was one of four teams that failed to qualify. Unsurprisingly, Bueckers received 11 major honors that season. View the profiles of people named Paige Decker. [134], Since high school, Bueckers has received considerable attention as one of the top players of her generation. [76], On March 21, Bueckers recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a 10259 win over 16th-seeded High Point in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament. Every decision made will prioritize whats best for Paige and her career. But (the meeting is to figure out) when can she start being incorporated into some kind of workouts.. Anyone can read what you share. [6] She has NASCAR certification to run short tracks in the Truck Series only; her goal is to race in the Xfinity Series. All other winners have been. Thanks for contacting us. UConn womens basketball star Paige Bueckers is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee during Sundays win over Notre Dame. Auriemma explained postgame why he didnt put her on the bench. Paige Bueckers. Monday will mark eight weeks since Paige Bueckers left knee surgery to repair an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear which was the estimated length of recovery provided by the school following the operation. In her first game back, Bueckers came off the bench and registered eight points on 4-for-5 shooting in 12 minutes. Bueckers is impactful on both sides of the ball, and the Huskies will certainly miss that next season as they figure out their depth. In March 2021, analyst Monica McNutt touted Bueckers as "arguably one of the best playmakers in the game". 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Thanks for contacting us. "I like our chances," Auriemma said after the game. Whos done more than her? Bueckers had her sights set on a national championship this coming season, telling Bleacher Report that it was the only thing that would make it a success. competed in sixmeets with fourtop 10 finishes; one win. UConn earned its 14th consecutive Final Four trip and eventually made it to the 2022 women's national championship game against South Carolina. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [2] When Natalie was 9 years old, Chuck bought her a kart and he bought one for Paige too. I'm always surprised when she shoots and it doesn't go in. [141] Bueckers scores efficiently both at the rim and from three-point range. Staying healthy will be more important than ever for the Huskies. Eventually, the Huskies were able to adjust as senior guard Christyn Williams stepped up as the leading scorer. Without Nelson-Odada, a 6-foot-5 forward, the team loses its leader in shooting percentage (59.5%) and rebounding (7.5 per game) from a season ago. Last season, she averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and a team-best 43.0% from 3-point range. [138] An adept passer and ball handler,[139] Bueckers has described herself as a "pass-first" player. UConn womens basketball blows out Georgetown in Big East Tournament Quarterfinals. At Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN and received national high school player of the year honors. Bueckers went down with 38.5 seconds left in UConns 73-54 win over Notre Dame on Sunday. Bueckers was informed she won the award by coach Geno Auriemma during a team video session on Monday. She posted 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 7470 overtime win over Australia for the gold medal. While a tibial plateau fracture is not the best-case scenario Auriemma said postgame that wouldve been a hyperextension, which typically has a 2-4 week recovery time Bueckers could still return this season. [22] As a freshman, Bueckers averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 4.1 assists per game, earning All-Metro first team honors from the Star Tribune. The Hoyas' last win over UConn was on Feb. 27, 1993 in Washington. The seriousness of the injury was clear right away because she had to be carried off the court. For those of you out of the loop,. UConn guard Paige Bueckers fell to the floor with a noncontact injury late in the second half on Dec. 5 in Storrs, Conn. Dordt Media Audio Channel For Play by Play, Leagues Hosted At The Dordt Recreation Center. [72] In her next game, Bueckers recorded 31 points, six steals and five assists, scoring her team's final 13 points, in a 6359 overtime win over South Carolina, the number one team in the AP Poll. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. [137] She has a slim build, which encourages opposing teams to force her to play through contact,[136] and displays quickness and agility. [79] At the Final Four, UConn was upset by third-seeded Arizona, 6959, and finished the season with a 282 record. Paige Decker (born March 20, 1993) [1] is an American professional stock car racing driver from Eagle River, Wisconsin. Paige Bueckers meeting with doctors to determine next steps in recovery, UConn WBB Weekly: Geno is tired of excuses. * Most laps led. Bueckers made the Class4A All-Tournament Team. After contacting coaches and athletic directors from every high school in Utah, the Deseret News has compiled the following list of the estimated 777 seniors from the 2019 graduating class who received an athletic and/or academic scholarship to play college sports. Legal Statement. [37] Toward the end of the season, she suffered from a stress reaction in her right leg due to overuse. "Provided we don't have to navigate a season like we did this year knock on wood if we stay healthy, I expect to be back here next year.". She'd already been playing for a couple of years, often teaming with kids older than her, and maxing out her rec. Paige is obviously an amazing basketball player but shes a better person and teammate and its really unfortunate that this has happened to her. She was named most outstanding player (MOP) of the tournament. The UConn womens basketball team was dealt a sizable blow on Wednesday. 7 in the Associated Press poll, has 16 games before Feb. 9, including dates with No. "Its time we stopped blaming the injuries, stop blaming fatigue, stop blaming tired," Auriemma said after UConn beat Xavier by nine. Getty Images Former UConn greats Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart both won the award as sophomores. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. [122] On September 1, Bueckers announced she would return to UConn for the 202324 season instead of declaring for the 2023 WNBA draft, for which she is age-eligible. [4], She is a Christian and attributes her confidence and success on the basketball court to God. [163] The second deal was with Gatorade, who signed her as its first college athlete. Paige Decker | #21 | G | So. [90] Bueckers recorded 168 assists, the most by a freshman in program history, despite a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The official 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster for the University of Connecticut Huskies . [58], Entering her freshman season at UConn, sports publications described Bueckers as the program's most hyped recruit since Breanna Stewart in 2012. [63] Megan Walker, UConn's top scorer from the previous year, had opted to forgo her senior season to enter the 2020 WNBA draft, leaving the 202021 team with no seniors. Shes a pain in the ass to have on the bench because all she does is complain about why shes not playing, he said. [5][6][7] Bueckers became friends with future National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jalen Suggs while in elementary school. Exactly how much Juhsz will play is still to be determined, though. Bueckers is one of four Huskies currently injured, along with the freshman Azzi Fudd (foot), the sophomore Nika Muhl (foot) and the junior Aubrey Griffin (back, ankle). She was expected to be sidelined for eight more weeks. Hopkins star Paige Bueckers is only a freshman", "Paige Bueckers is the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year", "Method to Determine Classification 20192020, 20202021", "Prep athletes of the week: Hopkins freshman Paige Bueckers picks up where she left off", "Hopkins' Paige Bueckers Looking Like The Next Tayler Hill", "Meet the 2017 Star Tribune girls' basketball All-Metro first team", "Elk River completes undefeated season with title game win over Hopkins", "Elk River wins 4A title in rare battle of the unbeatens", "Hopkins guard Paige Bueckers sidelined with ankle injury", "Paige Bueckers, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, still has one goal in mind: winning state", "Eastview wins the biggest prize, tops Hopkins for Class4A girls' basketball title", "Hopkins High School student-athlete named Gatorade Minnesota Girls Basketball Player of the Year", "Hopkins girls basketball: Bueckers reaches 2,000 points in 6966 win over Wayzata", "Bueckers 'toughs it out' for first state title", "Hopkins wins Class 4A title over Stillwater", "Hopkins High School's Paige Bueckers wins 2nd Gatorade Minn. [143][144] Her playing style has frequently drawn comparisons to Taurasi. She passed peacefully in bed at home in Spokan Bueckers is the first-ever freshman . UConn was up 18 points with about 39 seconds remaining in the game when . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. [108] The team's winning streaks of 240 games against unranked teams and 169 games against conference opponents ended in losses to Georgia Tech and Villanova, respectively. "The first thing that goes through your mind is the worst thing," Auriemma said. She worked out yesterday and said she felt good. Things seemed to be going mostly well for the Huskies -- but then Dec. 5 happened. [129] On December 10, 2019, she was honored as USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. Hoya guard Kennedy Fauntleroy was named the Big East Freshman of the Year on Thursday as she led all conference freshmen with 11.3 points per game. [85][86] She was the first freshman to win the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation. [114] On March 28, at the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, Bueckers led her team to a 9187 double-overtime win over top-seeded NC State, as UConn reached its 14th consecutive Final Four. Getting to the Final Four my freshman year and the national championship last year, the only thing left to do is win it.